Secret chef Lilah Drake has a killer casserole to deal with in the latest Undercover Dish mystery from the author of Cheddar Off Dead….Customers trust Lilah Drake to keep her mouthwatering meals under wraps, but when a millionaire meets his untimely end, some sinister secrets become the main course. . . . Spring is right around the corner, and with the warmer temperatures come plenty of food … temperatures come plenty of food requests from Lilah Drake’s covered-dish clients. Lilah pulls out all the stops with a sweet new casserole for the birthday party of Marcus Cantwell, a wealthy curmudgeon who has some angry ex-wives and more than a few enemies.
When he’s found facedown in Lilah’s casserole, it’s anyone’s guess as to who might have wanted the old man dead. A possible new heir to Marcus’s fortune adds some unexpected spice to the investigation, but Lilah fears that the old adage is true, and “the proof is in the pudding.”
INCLUDES RECIPES!
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Pudding Up with Murder by Julia Buckley is the third cozy mystery in An Undercover Dish Mystery series. Lilah Drake works as a secret chef in her spare time (when not working at Pine Haven Caterer’s). Lilah along with her dog, Mick are attending the birthday party of Marcus Cantwell. She prepared a rice pudding for her client, Ellie Parker to take to the event. After speaking with Marcus, Lilah is given a tour and the dish on the family by Cash Cantwell. When Lilah goes back to the kitchen, people are enjoying the rice pudding. Marcus enters the kitchen with an empty bowl of rice pudding and collapses. Thankfully, Detective Maria Grimaldi was on hand to secure the scene and quickly gather evidence. Who disliked Marcus enough to murder him? When Cash ends up being a prime suspect, Lilah starts looking at the extended family to find the real killer.
I found Pudding Up with Murder to be easy to read and it had a decent pace. The mystery was straightforward and one detail gives away the identity of the murderer. I could pinpoint the killer early in the story. I felt the romance dominated the book (I like a little romance, but I this was over-the-top). I quickly tired of Lilah mooning over Jay and Jay’s jealousy over Angelo Cardelini (it was ridiculous). I wanted more investigation and less day-to-day activities. There is cooking, walking the dog, dates, friends, and work. These elements make up a significant portion of the book. My rating for Pudding Up with Murder is 3 out of 5 stars. I do not quite buy into concept of a secret chef. Why would anyone be ashamed about not cooking or not wanting to cook? What am I missing? I was not enthralled with Lilah, but I did enjoy Mick, the dog (a cutie). Pudding Up with Murder can be a standalone. For cozy mystery readers who prefer the emphasis on cozy, then you will appreciate Pudding Up with Murder.
Lilah Drake creates delectable meals and allows her clients to call them their own. The fact that she cooks them is kept strictly confidential. When she and her furry companion, Mick are invited to the birthday party of a millionaire who ends up in her rice pudding, she is stunned.
Lilah cooks up a sweet new cinnamon rice pudding casserole for the birthday party of Marcus Cantwell, a wealthy man with three ex-wives and five grown kids. When he’s found face down in her casserole, Lilah can’t believe it is happening, again. She along with her boyfriend, Detective Jay Parker set out to locate the killer.
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Series: An Undercover Dish Mystery – Book 3
Author: Julia Buckley
Genre: Culinary Cozy
Publisher: Berkley
Julia Buckley’s third addition to her “An Undercover Dish Mystery” series, Pudding Up with Murder is a wonderful happy adventure with delicious ideas. It fits in well with the other books in the series, The Big Chili, and Cheddar Off Dead but can easily stand alone. The writing is smooth, the plot executed with flair and polish. The story is fast-paced and keeps the reader guessing until the last minute. There are plenty of clues along the way but finding them may be a bit of a challenge.
The character of Lilah is enchanting. She is stubborn and nosy but also loving and kind. Her love interest, Jay is a fine specimen of a man, but like Lilah, a bit hard headed with trust issues. They are perfect for each other but take their time revealing their feelings to one another.
Love is in the air, and many of the supporting characters are getting engaged and planning a wedding. Lilah helps things along with two of the couples by interfering, which is something she is almost as good at as she is cooking. All the characters are well rounded with individual personalities that are easily relatable. The Victim is not as likable as the other characters, but the reader will find that they feel sorry for him and his family, but also for the killer in the end.
Lilah’s furry companion Mick is adorable and seems almost like another human character. There are times when she speaks to him that the reader truly expects Mick to answer her. But Mick is more than just a quiet companion, he is also a protective friend and shows his true colors when Lilah needs him the most.
Pudding Up with Murder is a wonderful read and is highly recommended. If the reader enjoys fantastic food, unparalleled mystery with suspects that could be your next-door neighbors; children that are beyond delightful, and twists and turns until the very end, they will appreciate the nuances of this book and the entire series.